Eersfan

Jones performance was more impressive because that defense’s only key was to stop him and if memory serves me correct , He was injured on a negative yardage sweep in the 2nd quarter . He sat out a good 10 minutes of the game then came back in and put up 150 plus yards in the 4th

I think Graham will be challenged a couple times this year. Maybe not stiff challenges . I’d say LB will still have Bluefields number. 2A in Virginia is pretty weak. Bluefield doesn’t have much competition on their schedule but they will still face solid teams in Fairmont, Keyser, Bridgeport come playoff time. How tough those games will be depends on home field advantage.

I sure hope I can get Graham a win over Tazewell next week.

Next week might be a much more interesting matchup than most people think.

People forget to give the players much credit for their defensive play. These seniors  as 8th graders gave Bluefield Middle team their only loss of the season and held a much faster BMS team to 1 score. And prior to that , They held a Bluefield Cardinal team that scored 40 or more points a game to 1 offensive TD for 2 games in a row. Oh yeah and the opposing teams QB was Devin Lester. These seniors didn’t have that explosive offensive player back then  but they were tough, smart and coachable. They were a tremendous group of defenders long before Edwards, Atkins, Ray and even Lester came along.  Adding those kids just gave them more confidence with the added speed.

I’m saying Bluefield was loaded with even more talent and speed then and Spadaro was also an assistant for Large. The tenacity of Graham’s defense is due to the players. It has shown in the past. Football today is more about the Johnny’s and the Joe’s than it is the X’s and the O’s.  Simon and Palmer are good coaches but they would never have their success at a school such as Lebanon or a Montcalm. Great coaching comes in to play when you know the other sideline has more size,speed and talent than you do every week but you find ways to win.

People forget to give the players much credit for their defensive play. These seniors  as 8th graders gave Bluefield Middle team their only loss of the season and held a much faster BMS team to 1 score. And prior to that , They held a Bluefield Cardinal team that scored 40 or more points a game to 1 offensive TD for 2 games in a row. Oh yeah and the opposing teams QB was Devin Lester. These seniors didn’t have that explosive offensive player back then  but they were tough, smart and coachable. They were a tremendous group of defenders long before Edwards, Atkins, Ray and even Lester came along.  Adding those kids just gave them more confidence with the added speed.

People forget to give the players much credit for their defensive play. These seniors  as 8th graders gave Bluefield Middle team their only loss of the season and held a much faster BMS team to 1 score. And prior to that , They held a Bluefield Cardinal team that scored 40 or more points a game to 1 offensive TD for 2 games in a row. Oh yeah and the opposing teams QB was Devin Lester. These seniors didn’t have that explosive offensive player back then  but they were tough, smart and coachable. They were a tremendous group of defenders long before Edwards, Atkins, Ray and even Lester came along.  Adding those kids just gave them more confidence with the added speed.

Yes controlled. Holding onto the football and moving the ball in short increments. It was a 3 point game in the 2nd with Richlands scoring on a pass to take the lead only to be nullified by a silly penalty. That was definitely a subpar Richlands team but they scrapped. Anything can change in the course of  6 games. And Richlands definitely has the tougher schedule and they have depth. Those tougher games could deplete their ranks or make them tougher. Graham will have a somewhat tougher task with Union than Central Wise and Tazewell will be improved but what happens when they lose a key player? Where will their heads be at after those games? Will they blow those cupcakes off the ball and get complacent? If Richlands has improved on the defensive side , I wouldn’t count them out at all. 

I heard from a coach that the Rye Cove score was 3 -1 Lebanon, and the Rural Retreat score was 1 -1. From my understanding the pioneers subbed a lot and tried to avoid injury and overwork. They are a young team that will keep  improving. They also used the scrimmage  to test and tune things. I would take most of it with a grain of salt. The running  game will be better than you think.  You are right they do lack size but they are more athletic than you let on.  I think they will be able to spread  teams out some. While they might not finish with a winning record, I as still expect  them to win at least 4 games. They do have a lighter schedule  than in the past couple seasons out of district. They are definitely  headed in the right direction. The players want to be successful and they work hard. They are a team I wouldn't take lightly as the season  progresses. Honaker will have their hands full week 1. 

What is the obsession with running the spread in the SWD? Some of these teams don’t have the speed or personnel to pull it off and they attempt it against teams that have way more speed than they do. Look at what Lord Butterscotch did to Beaver with a good running game. Teams like Richlands and Tazewell could surprise teams if they could balance a power game with an outside game to go with their passing game. 

I don’t think Lester will have to be all that Allen was for Graham for  to be successful. He’ll make plays when needed  and be a great leader. And as for the Beavers , there’s a big difference between Glenvar and Pulaski County. They stepped on that field today this morning for the first time without lil Tony. I’m sure they were out of sorts but Freddy Simon will have those guys ready and they will be playing with emotion come that 1st game. Regardless of what Graham does against Beaver, the rest of their schedule is a cakewalk.

That’s a great example of coaching by allowing his players the full experience of high school sports. Some high profile coaches , especially in the 2 most profitable sports, still believe that in pressuring kids into focusing just on their sport. Sometimes it’s more about ego than preparation. Coach Dixon is doing it right. He knows his players don’t need 9 months of preparation before game 1. He also knows the benifits of multi sport athletes. Give me a wrestler at nose guard , at linebacker or the interior offensive line. You won’t need to spend hours on tackling drills or footwork with those guys. Give me a SS or a Catcher who wants that QB spot. His mechanics will be ingrained into his brain. Or a Safety that plays centerfield. His ball skills and track down speed will improve faster than anyone hanging around the weight room. A smart coach would know these things, at least one without a ginormous ego.

That’s a great example of coaching by allowing his players the full experience of high school sports. Some high profile coaches , especially in the 2 most profitable sports, still believe that in pressuring kids into focusing just on their sport. Sometimes it’s more about ego than preparation. Coach Dixon is doing it right. He knows his players don’t need 9 months of preparation before game 1. He also knows the benifits of multi sport athletes. Give me a wrestler at nose guard , at linebacker or the interior offensive line. You won’t need to spend hours on tackling drills or footwork with those guys. Give me a SS or a Catcher who wants that QB spot. His mechanics will be ingrained into his brain. Or a Safety that plays centerfield. His ball skills and track down speed will improve faster than anyone hanging around the weight room. A smart coach would know these things, at least one without a ginormous ego.

That’s a great example of coaching by allowing his players the full experience of high school sports. Some high profile coaches , especially in the 2 most profitable sports, still believe that in pressuring kids into focusing just on their sport. Sometimes it’s more about ego than preparation. Coach Dixon is doing it right. He knows his players don’t need 9 months of preparation before game 1. He also knows the benifits of multi sport athletes. Give me a wrestler at nose guard , at linebacker or the interior offensive line. You won’t need to spend hours on tackling drills or footwork with those guys. Give me a SS or a Catcher who wants that QB spot. His mechanics will be ingrained into his brain. Or a Safety that plays centerfield. His ball skills and track down speed will improve faster than anyone hanging around the weight room. A smart coach would know these things, at least one without a ginormous ego.

Galax is a prime example that this is indeed a very accurate statement!  Galax has state championships in football, basketball (2), baseball, soccer (5), and several individual state champions in wrestling since Mark Dixon took over the football and weight/conditioning program in 2010.  Those 9 state championship teams were littered with the same kids.  The dozen or so individual wrestling state champions also played football, baseball and/or soccer.

This is a myth that has been bought into by most high school coaches. A team is more successful with athletes who play multiple sports as opposed to a roster of players who specialize in only one sport. A majority of colleges prefer that their recruits play multiple sports and any high school coach encouraging their players to focus only one is doing a disservice to their players and the school. 

Some stray dawgs showed up

Hope they don't have the mange though.  Our wolves need to be healthy moving forward.  Lol.

Some stray dawgs showed up

I keep waiting to hear “ it’s not about how many dogs are in the fight, just how much fight are in the dogs.” Tee shirt material ..... I want royalties

I keep waiting to hear “ it’s not about how many dogs are in the fight, just how much fight are in the dogs.” Tee shirt material ..... I want royalties

That pic didn’t have everyone in it. Tazewell is in the low 40’s

In Radford’s defense , they moved the ball well early on Graham but fumbled the ball away . Once on a nice run on Prioleau. Graham has way more talent than most of the teams they play , especially at the skill positions. But the right game plan executed by a mentally and physically tough team could beat them. You never know what will happen. I don’t think it’s a guarantee that Bluefield will beat them , Bluefield lost a large group of seniors. They’re transitioning themselves. But teams like Richlands, Union and even Tazewell could pull the upset if they protect the ball and bring some toughness. Games aren’t won during 7 on 7’s. A great defensive game plan with kids that play their area of the field , don’t over pursue , tackle well and rip at the ball can beat talent any day

In Radford’s defense , they moved the ball well early on Graham but fumbled the ball away . Once on a nice run on Prioleau. Graham has way more talent than most of the teams they play , especially at the skill positions. But the right game plan executed by a mentally and physically tough team could beat them. You never know what will happen. I don’t think it’s a guarantee that Bluefield will beat them , Bluefield lost a large group of seniors. They’re transitioning themselves. But teams like Richlands, Union and even Tazewell could pull the upset if they protect the ball and bring some toughness. Games aren’t won during 7 on 7’s. A great defensive game plan with kids that play their area of the field , don’t over pursue , tackle well and rip at the ball can beat talent any day